My name is Katie and I am
doing an essay on American women
who have contributed to society.
Her impact must have occured
prior to 1950. I am trying to
find a woman who is not well
known. My hopes are that with
this essay, she will become
known. Can you give me any suggestions
on who to write about or where
I could look? Thank you very
much for you time, and any help
you can give! - Katie, age 14

Thanks for your note and for
welcoming suggestions. There
are so many "unknown" women
in history, that I honor your
work to try to make them known.

Here are a few suggestions
that you may or may not know
about:

Victoria Woodhull,
who was the first woman to
have a brokerage house on
Wall Street and the first
woman nominated for President
of the U.S. Both of these
things occured in the 1880's.

Mrs. Frank Leslie--she
was the Queen of publishing
row in the late 1800's. She
had to keep her husband's
name after he died because
people didn't take her seriously
as a woman.

The Delaney Sisters,
who wrote a book Having
Our Say. They are
crusaders in their everyday
acts.

Sarah Josepha Hale
was born in 1788 and was responsible
for persuading Abraham Lincoln
to declare the first Thanksgiving
in 1864. She was also the
author of "Mary Had A little
Lamb" and for 40 years edited
the Ladies Magazine,
the first literary magazine
for women. She was also a
fervent opponent of slavery.

You could also do someone
like Pochohantus or Sachagawea---the
real story, not the one we always
hear about. I hope this helps--and
let me know if you want more
suggestions.